The Hong Kong Police Force said on Monday that it had obtained court approval for the arrest warrants of eight individuals who allegedly contravened the national security law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Suspects include Kevin Yam, Yuan Gong-yi, Kwok Fung-yee, Kwok Wing-hang, Hui Chi-fung, Mung Siu-tat, Lau Cho-dik and Law Kwun-chung - all have absconded overseas and are now on the wanted list.

A reward of HK$1 million (about $127,635) in respect of each wanted person is being offered by the police to anyone who can provide information on the wanted persons and the related crimes.

According to the police, the aforementioned persons committed crimes of endangering national security, repeatedly held public gatherings overseas, advocated "Hong Kong independence," colluded with anti-China forces, and requested foreign countries to impose sanctions or take other hostile acts against the country and the HKSAR.

The police have gathered related evidence and will investigate it.

The police stressed that the national security law in the HKSAR has an extraterritorial effect and conforms to the principles of international law. Thus, the force has the responsibility to pursue in accordance with the law the legal liabilities of the persons who are alleged to have committed an offense contravening the law outside the HKSAR.

The police called on the eight wanted people to return to the HKSAR and surrender.

A spokesperson for the HKSAR government said that it is the constitutional responsibility of the HKSAR to safeguard national security, and it is the common responsibility of all the people of China, including compatriots of the HKSAR, to safeguard the sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China.

The HKSAR government shall proactively prevent, suppress and punish any act and activity endangering national security in accordance with the national security law and other relevant laws, the spokesperson said, adding that endangering national security is a very serious offense and the HKSAR government will fight against it in full force and pursue the liability of these persons to the end.

The Security Bureau of the HKSAR government also expressed its full support for the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force in its effort to bring to justice those who have absconded overseas and allegedly committed offenses under the national security law.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR on Monday issued a statement expressing its firm support for the HKSAR police to put the eight persons on the wanted list and take all necessary measures to pursue their legal responsibilities.

The statement stressed that anyone who violates the national security law in the HKSAR and commits relevant criminal acts anywhere will have their legal liabilities pursued and be punished by law.

The office will firmly perform its statutory duty of safeguarding national security, firmly support the HKSAR police to take action according to law, and relentlessly crack down on the anti-China agitators who fled overseas.

It will safeguard the hard-won good situation in the HKSAR and make every effort to ensure the steady and long-term implementation of "One Country, Two Systems."

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: File photo of the Golden Bauhinia Square in south China's Hong Kong. /Xinhua)